At Blacktoft Sands

With a forecast of sunny spells and showers, and relentless wind, I headed to Blacktoft Sands, the RSPB reserve at the confluence of the Ouse and the Trent at Humberhead Levels. The reserve has six hides, plus the visitor centre, with views towards wetlands by the river Ouse. Today, there were many waders and ducks about, and of course the ever-present Marsh Harriers, at some point four could be seen quartering the reserve. The harriers flushed the birds on the wetlands several times, sending flocks of Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit into the sky. Two Buzzards, a Kestrel and a Peregrine were also present. Amongst the waders, the Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwing were the most abundant, with some Redshank, Spotted Redshank and Ruff. Plenty of Teal and Wigeon, with some Shelduck, Gadwall and Shovelers completed the duck assortment. Fieldfares fed on the fields at the other side of the flood bank.

Marsh Harrier over the reedbed.

The view towards Alkborough.

There was a pair of Little Grebes on each of the pools. This pair thrilled several times. The individual on the left appears to be holding a stickleback, having trouble swallowing it.

Two discreetly stunning species, the Gadwall, a grey and brown duck that up close shows a beautifully scaly plumage, and the Black-tailed Godwit.

a pair of Marsh Harriers did a little bit of aerial courtship, coming together several times in the air, in preparation of the food passes that they'll do later in the year.

Four Spotted redshank roosting on the island in front of Xerox hide.

A Buzzard on a fence post.

At Ousefleet, I was very entertained by the Konik ponies, used at the reserve for conservation grazing of the saltmarsh and reedbeds. Two of them galloped towards the rest and they greeted each other.

 A call alerted these Black-tailed Godwits, which were sleeping a moment before, they raised their heads, watching attentively. A few Ruff were also present.

Black-tailed Godwit resting on one leg.

Sunny December at Spurn and Kilnsea Wetlands

After a very wet and miserable week, the sun shone yesterday and today. In search of broad horizons, as much light as possible and a lifer I headed to Kilnsea. As I drove past Easington, I scanned the fields for swans. Just as I was getting to Long Bank I saw two swan flocks at the other side of the field. After parking at Kilnsea Wetlands car park I approached, staying behind the cover of the WWII pillbox. The swans were 11 Whoopers and 14 Mute swans with plenty of young, feeding on crop tops. It didn't take long to spot the odd one out, a White-fronted Goose, which stayed close to the Whooper Swans as it fed. This was a lifer and my 221st British bird.

White-fronted goose and friends.

After watching the geese and swans for a while I moved onto Kilnsea Wetlands. Although frosty, it was calm and it didn't feel too cold. I noticed a loud roar, which I presumed it was the sea, but the lack of wind made it feel very strange. The only birder in the hide had stayed for a couple of days in the caravan park and commented of the loud noise all night, blaming the wind turbines offshore.

 Flocks of Brent Geese passed over one after the other, with their barking/purring calls. There were Lapwings and Wigeon feeding with the grazing sheep. A hare crossed the water onto the island, and, after a short nibble if pressed itself onto the ground, and tucked her ears in: a complete metamorphosis onto a lump of earth.

Lapwing and sheep.

Hare. Now you see it...

Now you don't.

Wigeon grazing.

I carried on, walking towards the beach. The origin of the roaring noise became apparent. Despite the light wind, the breakers were quite high and noisy, and the sea looked brown. Maybe the angle of the wind caused these puzzling sea conditions?

 After reaching the Blue Bell car park I walked towards the Crown and Anchor. Dunlin, Redshank and Grey Plovers fed on the mudflats. A curious mixed flock of Shelduck and two Brent Geese flew past. A good size comparison of a small geese with a large duck!

Shelduck and Brent Geese.

I continued my walk on Chalk Bank. The only sighting of notice was a flock of Yellowhammers, I counted 14 when they flew off. This was a site tick for me.

Yellowhammers.

Saltmarsh looking southwest.

 After a hot drink in the Discovery Centre and quick lunch at Canal Scrape I carried on. Two Stonechats were busy feeding on a stubble field.

 Female Stonechat.

The male, which was ringed, came to a closer fence post each time it fed, until it was just a couple of meters away.

Male Stonechat.

After this close encounter, I walked back to Kilnsea Wetlands with not much to report. Two Roe Deer walked along at the other side of the field. The swans had merged into a single flock and were a bit closer to the road, but the light was harsher than in the morning. 

White fronted goose and swans.

A first visit to Fen Bog

A trip to Fen Bog with fellow naturalist Robert Jaques. Fen Bog is a place I had wanted to visit for a while: a peaty bog area on a flat-bottom valley, with the Yorkshire North Moors steam railway line bordering the reserve. The steam train passed a couple of times while we were there (top). The nature reserve is flanked by upland streams. Continuing with the spell of warm, sunny weather, it was a perfect day for dragonflies and butterflies, including a light cooling northerly breeze which keeping biting insects at bay.

Butterflies

On the high slopes by the car park several Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries (top) fed on the flowering heather. Common Blues, Small Heath, Ringlet and Large Skippers were also on the wing, and later at the bottom of the site we caught with a Dark green Fritillary feeding on the Marsh Thistles. No signs of the Large Heath, which is recorded on the site too. Both Fritillaries were new for me in the UK.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary.

Large Skipper.

Dark Green Fritillary.

Common Blue on Bird's foot trefoil

Dragonflies

Fen Bog is known by its upland and moorland specialist dragonflies, with a total of 13 sp. On the path towards the bottom of the site we came across the first Keeled Skimmer, a female who sat on the ground several times.

Female Keeled Skimmer.

It was on the mire area, on a pool, a male Golden-ringed Dragonfly fed and patrolled the area. A second male came often to the pool, and both chased and occasionally fought for the prime position over the pond. After a while the resident male sat on a reed stem, and then occasionally sat again in various places in the same area. At one point 4 individuals chased high over the pool, with rustling of wings as they clashed. It was great to watch the dragonflies while sitting on the side of the pool. 

My best try at a flight shot.

 On the way back we were lucky with male Keeled Skimmers. This is a rare species in Yorkshire only present in a few sites, mostly found around Fylingdales Moor.

Male Keeled Skimmer.

Large Red Damselfly.

Plants
The heather was blooming and the site is not as wet as it would have been some rain in the last few weeks, but there were still boggy areas holding sundews, bog asphodels and other bog specialist plants.

Round leaves sundew. Note the captured fly under the topmost stem. A live fly was flying about, possibly attracted by the captured one?

Round-leaved sundew about to flower

Bog Asphodel

A view of Fen Bog from the path.

  Others

An Adder sunbathing on a sunny patch under trees. 

Sericomyia silentis, the Bog Hoverfly.

Bog hoverfly on orchid.

We came across three dead rabbits in various stages of decomposition around the reserve. Turning over this one revealed a pair of...

Banded Sexton beetles, Nicrophorus investigator, which promptly scurried under the corpse.

Birds 
Not a lot to report on the bird front. A curlew called and few over. A few Whitethroats were on full song, but not much else.

Singing Whitethroat.